In many education systems, students enjoy long summer holidays that last for two months or more. While such breaks provide important benefits for both children and teachers, there are also convincing reasons to argue in favour of shorter holidays.

On the one hand, long holidays have significant value. Firstly, they give children the chance to rest and recover after an intense academic year. Studying continuously without extended breaks can lead to stress and burnout, particularly for teenagers facing exam pressure. Secondly, summer holidays allow families to spend quality time together. Many parents take their children on trips, which not only strengthens family bonds but also broadens students’ horizons beyond the classroom. Finally, teachers also benefit from long breaks, as they can recharge, pursue further training, or prepare teaching materials for the next academic year.

On the other hand, there are strong arguments for shortening school holidays. A long gap in formal education can cause students to forget what they have learned, especially in subjects like mathematics and languages where constant practice is necessary. As a result, teachers often need to spend weeks reviewing old material at the start of a new term, which is inefficient. Moreover, long holidays can create childcare problems for working parents, who may struggle to find affordable options for their children during the summer months. Shorter, more frequent breaks could solve this issue by distributing rest periods more evenly throughout the year.

In my opinion, both approaches have merit. Long holidays do provide valuable rest and opportunities for travel, but they can also disrupt learning and place burdens on families. A balanced solution might be to slightly shorten summer holidays while adding more mid-term breaks, so that students and teachers still have time to relax but do not lose momentum in their studies. (297 words)